Mumbai: A waterfront event plaza overlooking the sea, pickleball and padel courts, food trucks, and even a petting zoo with duck and turtle ponds could be among the ticketed recreational facilities planned for the open spaces along the Coastal Road.
Reliance Industries Presents Proposal
A team from Reliance Industries Ltd, appointed to design and develop the open spaces, recently made a detailed presentation before the BMC landscaping committee, headed by the deputy municipal commissioner (gardens).
Key Features of the Plan
The centerpiece is a waterfront event plaza with a seating capacity of 8,000 to 10,000, envisioned as Mumbai's first large-scale sea-facing venue near the Worli end. It is expected to host concerts, cultural programs, and sound and light shows, potentially creating a new landmark along the western shoreline. Currently, Mahalaxmi Racecourse is the nearest open space for events of similar scale.
The presentation came days before the Supreme Court clarified that up to 15% of Coastal Road's open spaces could be used for ticketed recreational facilities and access-controlled areas, while the remainder must remain freely accessible. However, the committee noted that the area earmarked for ticketed amenities exceeded this limit and directed planners to scale it down.
“We found that around 19% of the area was falling under ticketed recreational facilities and, therefore, asked that it be reduced to 15%,” said an official who attended the meeting.
Ticketed Zone Components
Other proposed components within the ticketed zone include pickleball and padel courts, a nature-themed family attraction with a petting zoo, bird park, and duck and turtle ponds, a dedicated food and beverage precinct with food trucks, and a vendor retail zone around a small amphitheatre, also planned at the Worli end.
Free Public Amenities
Open spaces along Nepeansea Road, Breach Candy, Mahalaxmi, and Haji Ali have largely been earmarked for free public amenities, such as gardens, basketball and volleyball courts, children's play areas, Nana-Nani parks, and a native tree museum.
Coastal Road Project Overview
The 10.6 km Coastal Road project involved reclaiming nearly 111 hectares from the sea, of which around 40 hectares were used for the road, interchanges, bridge approaches, and related infrastructure. The remaining 65 hectares are proposed to be developed as public open spaces featuring promenades, gardens, cycling and walking tracks, urban forests, and recreational zones. The civic body had initially maintained that these open spaces would be entirely free and accessible to the public.
